The Detroit Jewish Community's
Best Kept Secret
CONGREGATION T'CHIYAH
A warm, welcoming, Reconstructionist synagogue
invites the community to hear
Conservative Lobbyist
Will Address AJC
Rabbi David A. Teutsch
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER
T
he executive director of an
influential Lansing-based
conservative research and
lobby organization has ac-
cepted an invitation to address
/—
the
more liberal Detroit Chapter
i
of the American Jewish Com-
mittee.
Although Randall Hekman of
the Michigan Family Forum will
not deliver a formal speech at the
April 12 event, he plans to talk
about his organization and is in-
terested in learning about the AJ-
Committee, a group he said he
\---,
knows
little about.
/—
Mr. Hekman and Sharona
Shapiro, the Michigan area di-
rector of the of the AJCommittee,
both hope the open board meet-
ing will allow participants to walk
away better informed.
'We're hoping to understand
the dynamics of a conservative
think- tank and its influence in
Michigan," Ms. Shapiro said.
'We need to understand exactly
what their agenda is and learn
about other issues we're not
aware of. They're influential and
it's important to know who they
are. We've invited Mr. Hekman
to have a conversation with us,
not appear before a hostile au-
dience."
Both suggested that the up-
coming meeting might provide an
opportunity for the organizations
to find common ground.
'Within movements, there are
components that can be compat-
ible with groups like the Ameri-
can Jewish Committee," Ms.
Shapiro said.
Mr. Hekman, an advocate of
allowing public monies for pri-
vate schools and of restrictions
on no-fault divorce, said there are
so many issues facing families
that finding an agreeable posi-
tion is possible.
'We may not agree and that's
OK," he said. "There are issues
and problems facing us that are
far bigger than any group can
solve. Finding some common
ground can help us address
them."
Ms. Shapiro said she is inter-
ested in learning about the lan-
guage used by groups like the
Michigan Family Forum and
wants to understand what issues
are important to this organiza-
tion, whose annual budget is $1
speak on
"Continuity, Challenge and Change:
Judaism for the Next Century"
2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 9, 1995,
at the Agency for Jewish Education Building
21550 W. 12 Mile Road.
million.
"I have questions for them,"
she said. "What are their inter-
ests in areas like foreign aid, hu-
man rights, welfare, immigration
and aging?"
"They're influential
and it's important to
know who they are."
— Sharona Shapiro
When words like family values
or morals are used, Ms. Shapiro
wants to know how they are be-
ing defined. "We need to know
their definition so we either use
similar language or dissimilar
language.
"We're coming from the ap-
proach that everyone is welcome
to bring ideas to the table," she
said. "We would like to hear
their arguments so we are more
informed and educated and
can make our arguments
stronger." ❑
Rabbi Teutsch is President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
and editor of the Kol Haneshamah prayerbook series. He has a Ph.D. from the
Wharton School of Business.
Congregation T'chiyah is the only Detroit area synagogue affiliated
with the national Reconstructionist movement. Reconstructionists define
Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people.
For more information call (313) 366-0292
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